What is bonus card?

“I long for you, just a touch of your hand. You don't leave my mind. Lonely days I'm feeling like a fool for dreaming. As I wander down the avenue so confused, guess I'll try and force a smile.” -Sam Smith

Fear was natural and there to keep you alive and happy, yet where it had been weaponized and fashioned into a cage, one was honored bound to break free.

When I was feeling triggered by the world and everyone it was behind fifty feet of glass. Loving bonds became inaccessible. In this mode I had to take great care not to damage bonds of love, the relationships and people who were everything to my heart and soul. For in time the glass disappeared and my love returned. I wish I could stop the triggering, but if I felt unprotected or left to fend for myself it returned - it was survival mode, cold, and indifferent. Yet even in those times I was cognizant of my morality. I could still make good choices. I could still imagine what the better version of me would want me to do and then carry that out. I couldn't undo the trauma I've been through, but I could adapt and overcome it.

It had been a week since I saw Xavier Knight, after that morning. As of now we were back in New York, I have to start packing my things and leave for California.

Yes, you read that right.

Well, well, well… yeah, I wouldn't be working for Walker Industries anymore or if I would say precisely, I wouldn't be working as Xavier's secretary from now on.

The decision wasn't mine, but of my elder brother Marcus' as he didn't want me to stay away from him anymore, which were exactly my thoughts.

Marcus talked about it with Chris and he agreed gladly, but there were some formalities that, I needed to complete and that was the reason I was standing in front of Xavier's office, right now.

Taking a deep long breath, I entered his office, and saw him standing beside the window, conversing with someone on the phone.

Remaining quiet, I heard him say, "Did he eat anything?" Asked Xavier and he sounded distressed and the person on the other end might have said something which resulted in him groaning in annoyance, "Fine, I'm coming."

He hung up on the person on the other end without even listening to their answer and turned around. He hadn't seen me until now and I took my time to examine him. Doing so, my eyes roamed from his messy hair to dark circles under his marvelous greens to his casual attire.

Before I could make my appearance known, he looked at me with his rage-filled eyes, "What are you doing here, Miss Williams?"

Keeping my face void of any emotions, "I'm afraid to remind you, but I work here Mr. Knight."

Uttering some profanities under his breath, he raced his fingers through his hair as he then picked up his car keys and tried passing me.

Would I let him do that without knowing the reason behind his distressed face?

Of course not!

He was about to walk by me when I gripped his forearm, restricting his actions and asked, "What's wrong?"

Looking at me, I was sure he was going to retort, but that didn't happen, instead he sighed, saying, "Alex is running down with fever."

My heart raced a bit listening to his name, letting go of his hand, I asked, "Has he taken any medicine, gone to the doctor?"

"Yeah, he has had a sore throat and a fever since morning. I've taken him to the doctor, he is just refusing to eat anything right now."

"Have you tried offering him some soup?" I asked, concerned.

"I have asked his caretaker Julia, but he's just not having it."

Pressing my forehead, "Why did you leave him with his caretaker?"

"I-I had work-"

"Nothing should be more important to you than Alex, Xavier. He's a kid, he needs his dad around him in this condition."

"Yeah, and that's the reason I'm leaving, but you're wasting my time!" He retorted, turning around to leave.

"Wait!" I called out before he could open the door, "I'm coming with you."

Looking at his shoulder, he was about to say something when I said, "Before you say something, let me remind you, I'm his aunt and I'm coming with you, period!"

He shook his head and walked out of his cabin… well, at least he didn't deny, so I followed him.

Reaching the parking lot, I stood at the exit while he drove his car towards the exit point, "Are you coming or not?"

Rolling my eyes, I moved around his royal black Mercedes and sat in the co-driver seat. It had been five minutes and he didn't drive further. When I looked at him, I found him looking at me already.

Raising my eyebrows in question, "Your seatbelt." Said Xavier and I immediately put my seatbelt on.

The twenty minutes’ drive went in silence as we reached his house, moving out of his car. I walked straight into his house and found Julia waiting for him at the entrance door.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"Who are you? You can't-"

My patience was running thin, moving my hard gaze on her, "Where is Alexander? I won't ask again!"

"First floor, go straight, second last room." Guided Xavier and I followed his directions without looking back at him.

Soon, I reached his room, I was about to open the door to his room when Xavier gripped the handle, "Don't do anything which I can't fulfill in this lifetime." Said Xavier, without looking at me.

His words were vague as I didn't understand the hidden meaning behind his words, but nodded in answer and Xavier opened the door.

There he was, my little man wrapped in a blue blanket, sleeping. I placed my bag on the counter beside the door and walked towards him. His room was washed in dim light, I sat beside him and touched his forehead as he shifted in his sleep.

His body was burning like if it was set on fire, Xavier leaned down and touched Alex's forehead too, "Jesus! He's burning." He hissed.

Xavier immediately turned around and glared at Julia who was shaking in fear, before Xavier could act on impulse, I grabbed his hand.

His head turned towards me, "Ask her to bring soup along with his medicines and you should change, I'll look after him." I said, calmly. Xavier did exactly what I had asked him to and left the room.

Alexander shifted again in his sleep, murmuring something in his sleep, I leaned down and heard him murmuring, "Daddy…." And instantly tears gathered in my eyes, reminding me how young this little boy was.

Sliding my hand under his neck, I picked him up and adjusted his body in my embrace. I kissed his forehead and tried waking him up, "Xander… baby... look who came here to meet you."

He opened his eyes slowly, "R-Rose?" Alexander stuttered, by this time Xavier returned wearing a casual shirt and joggers.

"Your dad said you don't feel like eating?"

He pressed his forehead against my chest, saying, "No…my throat hurts."

Xavier sat at the end of Alex's bed and directed Julia to keep the soup on his nightstand and leave.

Ignoring her, I kept talking to Alexander or he would have slept again, "You know, when I was a kid like you, my dad and I used to play a game in which he used to give me some bonus cards so I would do what he asked me."

He looked up with his honey brown eyes, and asked softly while warming my heart, "What is a bonus card?"

"It works like……"